Dallas Stars Blog

Derek Roy trade makes sense in big picture

The Stars on Monday filled their top six center hole by acquiring Derek Roy from Buffalo for Steve Ott and Adam Pardy.

Roy, 29, is small (5-9, 184), but he has had tons of success as Buffalo’s top center, posting 81 points in 2007-08, 70 points in 2008-09 and 69 points in 2009-10. However, he tore a quadriceps muscle in 2010-11, and struggled last season. He played 80 games, but had just 44 points (17G, 27A).

In the final year of a six-year contract, he will make $5.5 million with a salary cap hit of $4 million.

Ott’s departure will be felt. The 29-year-old center played his entire career with the Stars. He was drafted 25th overall in 2000, and played 566 games for the Stars. His numbers weren’t that much worse than Roy last season as he had 39 points (11G, 28A) in 74 games. He also was the Stars’ best faceoff guy at 55.5 percent last season. He has averaged 54.6 percent for his career.

Ott has two years left on his contract at $3.2 million per season.

Pardy was the Stars’ seventh defenseman and played in 36 games last season and tallied three assists. He has one year left on his contract at $2 million, and this trade makes sense when coupled with the Aaron Rome signing Monday.

In their place, they have brought Derek Roy, Ray Whitney, Cody Eakin and Aaron Rome.

They clearly have lost some things, but they also have gained some things on short-term contracts and they have allowed the ability for the coaching staff to rely on younger players.

And we’re not just talking prospects here.

Alex Goligoski, Trevor Daley and Philip Larsen should play a bigger role on defense next year with Souray gone. Cody Eakin could realistically slot onto a third line at cente with Jamie Benn and Derek Roy in the top six, and there should be no fear of playing young players with him.

With Ott gone, the Stars could turn the third line into a young energy line and move Vernon Fiddler, Eric Nystrom and maybe Ryan Garbutt to a veteran fourth line.

In addition, the departure of Ribero, Ott and Souray means that younger players like Jamie Benn, Loui Eriksson and Goligoski need to grab leadership roles, as well.